Continued Professional Development
There are many ways to access Continued Professional Development (CPD) in Suffolk.
Suffolk County Music Service CPD events will be shared below. You can also browse the options at the bottom of this page by clicking the + to expand your selection.
Music for Early Years
This training opportunity will be valuable for Early Years Practitioners and Childminders who would like to introduce or develop music-making in their work with young children, parents and carers. No previous musical experience is necessary, just enthusiasm to learn and use ideas through a practical approach.
Please email Suffolk County Music Service to register your interest for the next Music for Early Years.
Music Teach Meet: Suffolk
In collaboration with inspire-music, Suffolk County Music Service and Norfolk & Norwich Festival Bridge. A fantastic opportunity for teachers and learning practitioners to share stories and examples of excellent practice relating to music education. The session will be split into different sections, including time for presentations and networking.
Please email Suffolk County Music Service to register your interest for the next Music Teach Meet.
Other CPD opportunities
A Celebration of Schools' Music
Snape Maltings and Suffolk County Music Service offer free CPD sessions for all teachers of performing groups in the annual A Celebration of Schools’ Music events.
The sessions are valuable opportunities to look at singing and are a great chance to preview the Finale. The Finale is a new piece commissioned for all groups to perform at the end of the concert. In the CPD sessions you work with composers and exceptional workshop leaders before you come to Snape Maltings Concert Hall in March.
You can read more about A Celebration of Schools' Music here.
Festival Bridge
All children and young people should have the opportunity to experience and be inspired by high quality arts and culture, both in and out of the classroom.
Festival Bridge can support primary and secondary schools to develop a high quality arts and cultural offer and to form sustainable relationships with arts and cultural organisations through Artsmark, Arts Award and our Local Cultural Education Partnerships.
Government publications
Take a look at Music in schools: promoting good practice from Ofsted.
You can also read about professional development materials from GOV.UK.
Music Mark
Music Mark provides members with a variety of support and development opportunities via a diverse continuing professional development and training programme delivered within courses, seminars, conferences, symposia and other events.
There are several resources on their website for CPD, such as Musical Bridges, A Common Approach, and other publications.
You can become a member of Music Mark if you are a Music Service, Hub Partner, Individual, or a Student. Join online today from their website.
Music Education Expo
"The UK's largest exhibition and professional development conference for music education." Music Ed Expo
Offering high quality CPD for all types of music teacher, Music Education Expo host around 50 CPD sessions over two days. For more information you can visit their website to download a media pack.
National Association for Music Education (NAfME)
NAfME offers a wide range of CPD for music, including online classes. You can discover their 'cutting edge' information and 'top-notch' resources on their website.
Schools' Choice
The Schools' Choice CPD website has been set up to support you with your own professional development.
You can use the website to:
- search for events and courses that meet your development needs
- apply for events and courses organised by Schools’ Choice and its partners
- search for resources that may assist you in your current role
- follow links through to other websites which may be of interest to you
- provide you with an up-to-date record of your CPD
Your staff development coordinator will approve or decline any request you make for events or courses.
Please check your home page of the CPD website for notification on the progress of requests. You will also receive an email notification from the CPD system from time to time so make sure that you check for these.
How do I sign up for a course?
Visit Schools' Choice CPD online. Enter music into the Keyword search as well as sch into the Event Code box to find courses from the Suffolk Music Education Hub.
Please note: you will need to login if you wish to book a place. It is easy to sign up; follow the step-by-step instructions.
Check back weekly for new courses or you can contact Schools' Choice direct by phone: 01473 263944 or online for more information.
Schools' Music Association and Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM)
Suffolk Festival of Learning
The Suffolk Festival of Learning opened in October 2016. It's a festival for teachers, school and college leaders that presents workshops, CPD activities and networking opportunities across a range of subject areas.
Festival activities are split into zones. For example: primary, secondary, governance, business management etc.
Find out more about the festival and how to get your tickets on the Suffolk Festival of Learning website.
The Voices Foundation
The Voices Foundation provide short, extended, and bespoke courses for classroom teachers with little or no musical training.
The courses explore key teaching ideas, techniques and songs to support children’s musical learning.
You can find out more information about the courses available on The Voices Foundation website.
